Handicapped Bristlenose

[finchfarm]

I bought a few fish today, including a really pretty albino longfin bristlenose. He looked really healthy when I saw him in the tank at the LFS.

However, once I got him home I noticed that he only has one pectoral fin. His left pectoral fin is normal, but the one on his right is a little nub. I don't know if another fish attacked him in the store (I believe he was with hatchets or tetras) or if it is a hereditary problem. I didn't notice the missing pectoral in the store, because the fish was right up against the back of the tank, and the side with no pectoral was facing away from me. What little bit of a nub there is on the right side, there doesn't look like there's any "fin" part to it at all, just a little nub of the bony portion of the fin.

Will the little fish be able to live with only one pectoral fin?

 

[tribalbrit]

Dont see why not! Might even grow back. I once had a silver shark that lost its tail (careless thing lol) but it grew back.
Bet its called nimo hey?

 

[finchfarm]

Bet its called nimo hey?

I must confess, I thought about it. I think it might be a female though.

 

[xingumike]

Clean water may see it grow back, depends how extensive the damage is.

Water quality is key to stopping any further issues, the fix it twins (melafix and pimafix) may also help

 

[toddnbecka]

The fish will be fine in an aquarium, likely wouldn't make in in the wild though. I have a regular brown BN that's missing his tail. He was hiding inside a drain valve (when he was just a little one) and it got sheared off when I opened/closed the valve. All of the fin ray base was lost, but he healed up alright and grew out normally otherwise. I doubt thay he'll be able to attract a female, but I have too many other males to worry about breeding him anyway.
I bred/raised a super red BN that looked like that, though I didn't even notice until the person I sold it to (in a group of juvies) complained about it. No fin, just a little stub, but it didn't affect anything other than the appearance.
I also have Synodontis petricola adult (received as a juvie a few years ago) with one stubby pectoral fin that is fine otherwise.